I wish to give you a very warm welcome to the Malta International Music Festival 2016, comprising of a series of Master-Classes, Concerts and International Competitions in a stretch of two weeks towards the end of April and beginning of May.

Our faculty of internationally renowned professors will conduct a series of Master-Classes between 27th April and 6th May to participants hailing from different countries.

This year’s festival will once again feature internationally acclaimed artists, the professors and master-classes’ participants in a series of concerts being held at various venues in the capital city – Valletta, including the Mediterranean Conference Centre, St. James’ Cavalier, the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Palazzo de la Salle, The German Maltese Circle at Palazzo Messina, Robert Samut Hall in Floriana and Temi Zammit Hall, Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.

In particular, we are proud to be able to welcome the famous Piano Trio composed of Daria Tschaikowskaja (piano), Alexandre Bouzlov (cello) and Alissa Margulis (violin); internationally acclaimed pianists Albert Mamriev and Regina Chernychko, and clarinettist Julian Milkis who will be teaming up with renowned Italian pianist Giuliano Mazzoccante for an evening of music composed by our Festival’s featured composer Alexei Shor.

Further concerts will feature established musicians from the local scene, including a concert by singers from Atelier Lyrique under the direction of Andriana Yordanova, a piano recital by Kristina Golubeva, and a vocal recital by Julie Zahra and pianist Charlene Farrugia. We will also be having a concert dedicated to the 125th Anniversary of Sergei Prokofiev and 110th Anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich.

Between 6th and 10th May, participants of different nationalities will participate in International Music Competitions for Pianoforte and Voice, which also include special prizes for best interpretations of compositions by the resident composer Alexei Shor.

We are very excited to welcome and host many participants from different nations around the world. While having the opportunity to learn, live and exchange artistic experiences with professors and participants of various nationalities, the festival aims at providing young international performers with further opportunities which are vital in the development of one’s international career.

Along the years the Festival & Competition has attracted participants from many different countries, while enabling local music students, teachers and music-lovers to benefit from such an opportunity in Malta. This together with the provision of high quality teaching, concerts and competitions is fulfilling the main goal of this Festival.

Our guest Professors together with the organising team are looking forward towards providing you with an enjoyable, yet rewarding and inspiring artistic experience during our Festival in Malta. With pleasure we also note that for some participants this is not their first time in Malta and have been participating in the Festival from year to year. We are thrilled to follow their artistic development, while we are proud to be contributing towards their successful careers.

On my behalf, I wish to thank the European Foundation for Support of Culture for the organization of this Festival, their dedication and contribution towards the development of young and upcoming musicians through other events and concert series during the year. I wish to thank the Professors and members of the Jury of the competitions, the sponsors – the management of the various Theatres, Concert Halls and venues where we are holding our concerts, and the local entities supporting our Festival, in particular the Russian Centre for Science & Culture, the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, the Johann Strauss School of Music – Malta, Catholic Institute and AELS English Language School – Malta.

I wish you all a pleasant stay in Malta, while I augur all the participants a wonderful time and successful performances. Good luck to all the participants of the competitions while wishing everyone the best of luck in their musical careers.